Baron Ferdinand de Rothschild bought the Waddesdon Estate in 1874. That’s right. Bought it. Ascott estate, bought that. Champneys? Bought that too. No wonder they are described as the wealthiest family in modern history. It’s impossible to fathom that at one point in history one family owned the majority of Europe. Banking, wine, construction, mining, you name it, they did it. Many of the properties have since been handed over to the national trust which means they are not for profit, but more importantly, you can get married there! The Waddesdon Estate is divided into three venues, the Manor House, The Dairy and the Five Arrows Hotel. This amazing event took place at The Dairy, a most sublime wedding venue and a real pleasure to shoot at for any buckinghamshire based wedding photographer.
A remarkable location for multiple reasons. Firstly, the flexibility makes it a truly unique wedding venue in Buckinghamshire. Love a traditional wedding? No problem, St. Michael and All Angels church is a three minute walk. Fancy keeping it all in one place? The Dairy is licensed for civil wedding ceremonies and partnerships in the Inner Courtyard, West Hall, Winter Garden, Lakeside Pavilions and the Secret Garden. Get married inside or out, the choice is yours. Check out the Hitched website for more photographs of ceremony options. Spoilt for choice, I felt like a Baron just being there. You’ll see other venues such as the stunning nether winchendon house in aylesbury, and the beautiful Notley Tythe Barn. How about this sophisticated wedding at Stoke Place.
I adore this wedding. It reminds me of the importance of family. The connection between everyone is so tangible, bridesmaids, flower girls, long lost friends, the love is real. Everyone wearing their emotions on their sleeves and riding the emotional roller coaster that is a wedding day, fully embracing every pang of sadness, every bout of laughter. It was a joy to witness. My current philosophical reflections on life have led me to Guy Debord, a French theorist. I read a passage of his just yesterday that struck my very core. The modern world is moving from ‘being’ to ‘having’. In many ways this is true, however weddings like this give me such fulfilment because they absolutely oppose this idea. I didn’t see a single mobile phone all day, everyone was in the moment, truly ‘being’. Fully immersing themselves in the day. No adverts, no Whatsapp or Facebook. A group of people experiencing the extreme emotions that life can deliver, it was beautiful to be a part of. Still on the lookout for your own dream wedding venue in bucks? maybe have a look at the farmyard vibes from this wedding at north hill farm, a beautiful venue just outside beaconsfield.
